Russia Finds New Bird Flu Cases, Strain Unknown

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Bird flu has been found in the southern Russian region of Astrakhan, Russia's Agriculture Ministry said on Tuesday, without saying whether it was the H5N1 strain that has killed more than 60 people in Asia.

The ministry said in a statement that between November 14 and November 21, 200 dead swans were found in an area of the Volga around 16 km (10 miles) from the nearest populated areas.

They were infected with the H5 bird flu virus but the ministry did not specify which strain.